Railway traffic controlling apparatus



April 30, 1940. H. c. VANTASSEL RAILWAYTRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1959 lNV NTOR HaPPg C. V are! ATTORNEY HIS governing tramc g More specifically) my invention relates to the AI W Y TRAFFIC CONTROLLING fAPPARATUS n Vantas s el, Swissvale,aPa., assignor to Patented Apr. 30, 1940 f lhe Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissv ale, ,Pa. a corporation of Pennsylvania :jApplication September 9,1939, Serial No. 294,177

My invention relates to railwaytraflio controls ling apparatus, andparticularly to apparatus of the type involvinga railway switch and a signal movements over the switch. release of approachfand stick locking fora mi l $1M i l l One feature of my invention is the provision of -novel and improved means for preventing a reductioriin the release period for approach -or stick lockingif a time element device whichdeterrriines thatrelease period hasnot fullyfieturnecl to its normal condition after it has been previously energized f l The apparatus of my "invention is an improvemeht over that disclosed in the chpending ap plications Serial No. 323286, filed Decemb er 3, 1928, by Lester Ejspray for Multiple control apparatusiand Serial No. 416,061,;fi16d December 23, 1929, by Howard A; Thompson for Multiple control apparatus; Ishall describe one form ofapparatus embodying my "invention,"and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

" The accompanying" drawing is afldiagrammatic view showing one formyof apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawingfthe reference characters 3 and 3a designate the" track rails of a stretch of mainrailwayttraclg dividedby insulatedjoints 5 to form a rnainsection lT'and an approach section AT. Each track section is provided with a track circuit includinga track battery 6,connected across therails adjacent one end of the section, and a track relay designated by the reference character R preceded by "the reference character for the associated section, connected across the rails adjacent theopposite end of the section. it f A track switch I is included in section IT for connecting the main track with anauxiliary track X. Switch I is provided with an operating mechanism M which, as hereshown; is controlled by a polarized switch control relay WR.

Traffic moving toward the left as shown in theorawing, whichI shall assume is the westbound direction, isflgoverned by a signa1u2A for the main track, and bya signal 2Defor-the auxiliary track X. Eastbound trafiic on the main track is governed by asignal 4. Onlya portion of the operating circuit isshown for each of the signals 2A and 4. A portion of the energizing circuit forlasignal control relay 2AHR is also shown, controlled by track relay ITR and by a leverV which maybe locatedtat some suitable first time contact TE-l2 which is 8 Claims? or. 246-161) control point, such for example as an interlocking tower. Asecond signal control relay 4AI-IR may be controlled similarly to, relay 2Al-IR. As shown in the drawing, the signals are of the semaphore type, but may be of any other suit- 5 able design.

The contacts operated by the various relays and other devices are identified by numbers, each such number having a distinguishing prefix from which it is separated by a dash when the asso *10 ciated contact is shown apart from the relay or other device by which it is operated. The prefix for each of these contact numbers comprises the reference character for the relay or other device by which the associated contact is operated. For example, contact ZAS-Zl, shown in the operating circuit for signal 2A, is identified by the number 24 whichis separated by a dash from the prefix 2A8 which is the reference character for relay 2A3 by which this contact is operated.

Similarly, contact TE-32, shown in a pickup circuit for, and adjacent to, the winding of the stick relay THIS, is identified by the number 32 which is separated by a dash from the prefix TE which is the reference character fora time ele- ,25 ment device TE by which this contact is operated.

An approach and stick locking relay associated with signal 2 and designated by the reference character 2AS controls, in part, the switch control relay WR by means of a front contact 2AS -l8, so that relay WR cannot be energizedior effecting operation of switch i unless relay ZAS isenergized. Only one portion of the normal and reverse control circuits for relay WR is shown in the drawing, and the portions of these Energization of reIay ZAS is controlled in part by time element means here shown as a thermal device TE, by a first slow release auxiliary stick relay TES and by a second auxiliary stick relayRP. l Time elementmeans or device TE operates a normally closed, and which opens in response to energiza tion of deviceTE, and which is slow to close when device TEbecomes deenergized. Device TE alsooperates a second, normally open, contact TIE-32 which is slow to close when device TE becomes energized.

Asecond approach and stick locking relay, designated bythereferencecharacter lAS, is associatedwithsignal 4 and may be controlled sim- M ilarly to relay 2A3, and hence its control circuits are omitted from the drawing. 4

Contact 25, shown in the operating circuit for signal 25., is operated in conjunction with switch I, and is closed only when switch I occupies the normal position.

Contacts l and 8, shown in the circuits for relay RP, are operated in conjunction with signals 2A and 21), respectively, and are closed when the corresponding signals indicate stop, and become opened when the arms of the corresponding signals leave the stop position.

Having described, in general, the arrangement and control oi the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing, I shall -now describe, in detail, its operation.

As shown in the drawing, all parts are in the normal condition, that is, switch 9 is in its normal position; lever V is in its normal position, in

which contact 2i is open; signals 2A, 2D and l are indicating stop; switch control relay WR is energized by cur-rent of normal polarity; track relays ITR ancl AT R are energized; approach and stick locking relays 2A8 andAAS are energized; second auxiliary stick relay R1? is energized; and relays ZAHR, iAI-IR and and time element device TE aredeenergized. g

Both a pick-up and a stick circuit are shown closed for second auxiliary stick relay RP, the pick-up circuit passing from terminal B of a suitable source of current, not shown in the drawing, through contacts 1 and 8 of signals 2A and 2D, respectively, back point of contact TES-I 2, contact TE-I7i, back point of contact TEE-43, and the winding of relay HP to terminal C of the same source of current. The stick circuit for this relay passes from terminal B, through contacts I and 8 of signals 2A and 2D, respectively, contact M of relay RP, and the winding of relay RP to terminal C.

Both a pick-up and a stick circuit are also closed I for approach locking relay 2A8, thepick-up circuit for this relay passing from terminal B, through contact RP-45, contact id of relay ZAHR, contact of relay ATE, and the udnding of relay ZAS to terminal C. The stick circuit for this relay passes from terminal B, through contact RP-AE, contact Iii of relay Mil-IR, front point of contact ll. of relay 2A6, and the winding of relay 2AS to terminal C. V

I shall assume that the leverrnan desires to arrange for a westbound train to move over the main track, with switch I in its normal, position. As shown in the drawing, switch i is already in its normal position, and the leverman has therefore onlyto initiate the clearing of signal 2A by moving lever V to its 7' position. If the other contacts not shown in the drawing in the control circuit for relay ZAHR are also closed, this operation of lever'V completes the circuit for relay EAHR. including contact 2! of lever V closed in the right-hand or 1' position, and contact .22 of relay iTR.

Relay ZAHR, upon becoming energized, opens its contact Ii! in the circuits previously traced for relay 2A8, causing this relay to become deenergized.

With relay ZAHR energized and relay ZAS deenergized and other contacts in the operating circuit for signal 2A closed, this operating circuit is now completed, including contact 23 of relay lAS, contact 2AS24, contact 25 of relay 'ZAHR, contact 26 of switch I,"and the mechanism of signal 2A to terminal '0. The arm of signal 2A therefore moves away :fromits stop position to a position for directing trafiic movements to enter section IT, thereby opening its contact I in the pick-up and stick circuits traced for the second auxiliary stick relay RP,and thus causing this relay to also become deenergized.

If now the westbound train moves through section ATand enters section IT, relay I TR will become deenergized, opening its "contact 22 and" thus causing relay 2AHR to become deenergized,

' "which in turn causes the arm of signal 2A to return .to the stop position.

'With relays ZAHR and ITR. deenergized, a second pick-up circuit is completed for relay ZAS, this circuit passing from terminal B, through contact RP9, contact III of relay ZAHR, contact I6 of relay ITR, and the winding ofrelay 2AS to terminal C. With relay ZAS energized, the approach looking for switch I is released by r the closing of contact 2ASIB in the circuit for relay WR, but this relay remains-deenergized while the .train occupies section IT, due to its control by relay I'IR, which however is not shown in the drawing. I shall now assume that the leverman again clears signal 2A for a westbound train to pro ceed on the main track over switch I in its normal position, and that after the train enters section AT butbefore it enters section IT, the leverman returns the arm of signal 2A to the stop position by returning lever V to its normal position and thereby opening contact 2I and deenergizing relay ZAHR. With the arm of signal 2A returned to the stop position, the pick-up circuit previously traced for relay RP will become closed. Relay 2AS will, however, remain deenergized on account of its first pick-up circuit being open'at contact I5 of relay ATRbecause of the presence of the train on section AT, and itssecond pick-up circuit being open at contact I6 of .relay ITR because the train has not entered section IT.

An energizing circuit will therefore. be completed for time element device .TE, Passing from terminal B, through contact 29 of relay RP, 0011- tact30 of relay 2AS, contact 3I of relay TES, and vtime'element device TE to terminal C. Time element device TE will now open its contact.TE--I2 in the pick-up circuit previously-traced for relay RP which will, however, remain energized byits stick circuit also previously traced.

Contact TE32, which is slowin picking up, completes a pick-up circuit for relay TES upon the lapse of a first delay period of time, this circuit passing from terminal 13, through contact RP-Q, contact ID. of relay 2AHR, back point of contact I'I of relay ZAS, contact TE--32, and the winding of relay 'TES to terminal C. Relay TES, upon becoming energized, .closes its .con tact 33, thereby completing a, stick circuit which is the same as the pick-up circuit previously traced for this relay except including contact '33 instead of contact TE--32. With relay TES energized, the energizing circuit traced for time element device TE is opened'at contact 3| of relay 'I'ES.

Contact TE--I2, which is slow'to close when time element device TE becomes deenergized, will complete a third pick-up circuit for relayZAS after the lapse of a second delay period of time, this circuit passing from terminal 13, through contact RP-Q, contact ID of relay ZAI-IR, front point of contact .TE-II, contact TE-IZ, front point of contact TE. -I3, .and the winding of. relay 2ASto"terminal C.

It'follows'that :under the procedure just outliiiedtthe lockingreleaseperiod is the time required for the third pickeupcircuit for relay ZAS to ,become closed after the leverman deenergizes j relayg'iAI-IR, causing the arm of signal 2A to 9 return to the stop position, and includes afirst; j delayperiod of 1 time comprising the pick-up time for devicetTE, and a second delay period of time comprisingthe closing period for contact Tit-42 when device TE becomes deenergized.

,I shall, next assume that all parts of the appa ratus are again returnedwto the normal condition,: and that the leverman, ,as before, clears signal 2A for a westbound trafiio movement on the main track over switch I in the normal position.

:Ifshall further assume that the leverman then returns the arm of signal 2A to the stop posisecond time,",befo re the train passes this signal,

hereturns the arm of signal 2A to the sto position.

Ishall; also assume that time element device TEisin some other condition than its normal condition, when the leverman returns the arm,

of signal 2A to the stop position the second time, because of the signal having been returned to ;stop,,before. Contact TE --l2will therefore be open and relay RP cannot become energized.

Contact 29 of relayRP will therefore be open,

and hence time element device TE will not at once become energized when the leverman returns the ;arm of signal ZAto stop the second time. With time element device TE deenergized, this device will now return to itsnormal condition, causing its contact TE|2 to close and thereby complete the pick-up circuit traced for relay RP. With ,relay RRthen energized, time element device TE willbecome energized, causing relay TES to become energized and 're lay 2A8 to become ener gized after time element device TE has again returned to the normal position permitting its contactQTE-H to close.

q Therefore, the approach locking release period, when the leverman returns the arm of signal 2A tolthe stop position and then againclears this signal and almost immediately again returns the arinjofsignal 2A to the stop position, includes part of, the usual closing period for contact TIE--12 of, device TE, in addition to the usual approach locking release period which includes the first time delay period required for time element device TE to attain its operatedcontrol condition upon becoming energized and the second delay periodflrequired for time element device TE to return to the normalcondition when time elementgdevice TE becomes deenergized.

, From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, it follows that in apparatus embodying my invention, I have provided approach locking release means including a time element device requiring a first delay period for attaining a release control condition when the time element device becomes energized, and requiring a second delay period to return to the normal condition when the time element device becomes deenergized, and that I have also providedfnovel and improved means for preventing release of the approach locking in less than a period of time comprising the first and second delayperiods, if the time element device is in a condition other than its normal condition when the releasepf the approach lockingis initiated.

Although if have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my in vention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I ,claimisz 1. In combinationja stretch ofrailway track including a switch, a signal for governing traific movements oversaid switch, an approach looking relay, a first slow release auxiliary stick relay having a first and a second contact each of which is provided with a front and a back point, a second auxiliary stick relay, a time element device having a first time contact which is slow to close when said time element device becomes energized and having a second time contact which openswhen said time element devicebecomes energized and which is slow to close when saidtime element device becomes deenergized, a

signal relay, a pick-up circuit for said approach locking relay controlled by a front contactof said second auxiliary stick relay and by a back contact of said signal relay and including said second time contact and the front points of, said first and secondtcontactsof said first auxiliary stick relay, a stick circuit for said approach lock ing relay controlled by a front and a back contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and said signal relay respectively, a pick-up circuit for,

said second auxiliary stick relay includingsaid second time contact and the back points of said first and second contacts of said first auxiliary stick relay and closed only when said signal indicates, stop, a stick circuit for saidsecond auxiliary stick relay closed only when said signal indicates stop, a pick-up circuit for said first,

auxiliary stick relay controlled by said first time contactand by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and also by, back contacts of said signal and approach locking relays, a stick circuit for said first auxiliary stickrelay controlled by a back contact of said approach locking relay, a circuit controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and by back contacts of said approach locking and first auxiliary stick relays for energizing said time element device, manually controllable means for energizing ,saidsignal relay, a circuit including a front contact of said signal relay for control,-

ling said signal, and means controlled by a front contact of said approach trolling said switch.

2. In combination, a stretch of railway trackineluding a switch, a signal for governing traffic device having a first time contact which is slow,

locking relay for con to close when said time element device becomes energized and having asecond time contact 9 which opens when said time element device be comes energized and which is slow toclose when said time element device becomes deenergized, a

pick-up circuit for said approachlocking relay controlled by a front contact of saidsecond auxiliary stick relay and includingsaid second time contact and the front points of said first and sec ond contacts of said first auxiliary stick relay, a

stick circuit for said approach locking relay con-- trolled by a front contact of said second auxil-' iary stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said sec,

and auxiliary stick 'relay including said second timecontact and the back points of said first and second contacts of said first auxiliary stick relay and closed only when said signal indicates stop, .a stick circuit for said second auxiliary stick relay closed when said signal indicates stop,

a pick-up circuit for saidfirst auxiliary stick relay controlled by said first time contactLand byv a front contact of said second auxiliary stick rei lay. and also by a back contact of said approach locking relay, a stick circuit for said first aux-. iliary stick relay controlled by a backcontact of said approach locking relay, a circuit controlled bya front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and by back contacts of said approach locking and first auxiliary stick relays for energizing said time element device, manually controllable means for clearing said signal, and means controlled by a front contact of said ap proach locking relay for controlling operation of said switch. g

3. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a switch, a signal for governing traffic movements over said switch, an approach locking relay, a first auxiliary stick relay, a second auxilv iary stickrelay, a time element device having a first time contact which is slow to close when said time element device becomes energized and having a second time contact which opens when ;said time element device becomes energized and which is slow to close when said time element device becomes deenergized, meanscontrolled by said second time contact and by said first and second auxiliary stick relays in the energized :condition for energizing said approach locking relay, a stick circuit for said approach locking relay controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay, means controlled by said' second time contact and by said first auxiliary stick relay in the deenergized condition for energizing said second auxiliary stick-relay if said signal is controlled to indicate stop, a stick circuit for said second auxiliary stick relay closed when said signal is controlled to indicate stop, a

-, pick-'up circuit for said first auxiliary stick relay controlled by said first time contact and by a back contact of said approach locking relay and also by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay, a stick circuit for said first auxiliary stick relay controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and by a back contact of said approach locking relay, means controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and by back contacts of said approach lockr *ing and first auxiliary stick relays for energizing said time element device, means for clearing said signal, and means controlled by a front contact of said approach locking relayfor controlling operation of said switch. I I

4. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for governing trafiic movements into said stretch, a second traffic governing device for said stretch, an approach locking relay, a first auxiliary stick relay, a second auxiliary stick relay, a

, time element device which upon becoming energized requires the lapse of a first delay period of time to attain a given energized control condi tion and which upon then becoming deenergized requires a further delay period of time to attain its normal condition, means controlled by said time element device in its normal condition and by said first and second auxiliary stick relays in the energized condition for energizing said approach locking relay, a stick circuit for said approach locking relay controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliaryl stick 1 relay,"- means con trolled bysaid time el'emehtdevice in its normal condition anclby said first auxiliary stick relay in the deen'ergiz'ed condition for energizing saidsecond auxil'iary stick relay if said signal indicates stop,-a.stick circuit for retaining salid'secon'd auxiliary stic'k relay in the energized condition if saidsignal indicates 's'top,a pick-up circuit for said first auxiliary stickrelay controlled by said time element device in said-given energized control condition andby a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and also by aback contactof said approach locki-ng relay, a stick 7 circuit for said first auxiliary stick relay controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relay and by'a backcontact of said approach locking relay, means controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick relayand by back contacts of said approach locking and first-auxiliary stick relays for energizing said time element device, means for clearing said signal, and meanscontrolled by a'front contact of said approach locking relay for controlling said second trafiic governing device.

5. In combination, a stretch of railway track,

a signal for governing traffic movements into said stretch, a second traffic governing device forsaid stretch, an approach locking relay, a first auxiliary stick relay, a second auxiliary stick relay, 2.

time element device which upon becoming energized requires the lapse of a first delay period of time to attain a given energized control condition and which'upon then becoming deenergized re-, quires a further delay period of time to attain its normal condition, a pick-up circuit for said approach locking relay controlled by said time element device in its normal condition andiby,

said first auxiliary stick relay in the energized condition, a stick circuit for'said approach locking relay controlled by a front contact of said second] auxiliary stick relay, a pick-up circuit/for said second auxiliary stick relay controlled by said tirneelement device in its normal condition and by said first'auxiliary stick relay in the deenergized condition, a stick circuit for retaining said second auxiliary stick relay in the energized con dition if said signal indicates stop, a pick-upcir-. cuit for said first auxiliary stick relay controlled by saidti-me element device in said given energized control condition, a stick circuit for said first auxiliary stick relay controlled by a front contact of said second auxiliary stick .relay and by a back contact of said approach locking relay,l

meanscontrolled by a front ,contact of said second auxiliary'stick relay and by back contacts of said approach locking and first auxiliary stick relays foi' 'energizing said time element device,

means for clearing said signal, and means con-v trolled by a front contact of said'approa'ch locking relay for controlling operation of said second traffic-"governing device.

'6. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for governing trafficmovements on said stretch, a second trafiic governing device for said stretch, an approach locking relay, an auxiliary 6 nal indicates stop, means controlled by said time element device upon attaining its said energized control condition and then returning to its normal condition for energizing said approach lockin-g relay, a stick circuit for said approach locking relay controlled by a front contact of said auxiliary stick relay, means controlled by a front contact of said auxiliary stick relay and by a back 1 contact of said approach locking relay for energizing said time element device, means for clearing said signal, and means controlled by a front contact of said approach locking relay for controlling operation of said second trafiic governing device.

7. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for governing trafiic movements on said stretch, a second trafiic governing device for said stretch, an approach locking relay, an auxiliary ystick relay, atime element device which upon becoming energized requires the lapse of a first delay period of time to attain a given energized control condition and which upon then becoming deenergized requires the lapse of afurther delay period of time to return toits normal condition, means controlled by said time element device in the normal condition for energizing said auxiliary stick relay, a stick circuit for then retainingsaid stick relay in the energized condition if said sig nal indicates stop, means controlled by said time element device upon attaining its said energized control condition and then returning to its norinal condition for energizing said approach locking relay, a signal relay, means for energizing said signal relay, a stick circuit for said approach locking relay controlled by a front contact of said auxiliary stick relay and by a back contact oi said signal relay, means controlled by a front contact of said auxiliary stick relay and by a back contact of said approach locking relay for energizing said time element device, means controlled by a back contact of said approach locking relay and by a front contact of said signal relay for clearing said signal, and means controlled by a front contact of said approach locking relay for controlling operation of said second traflic governing device.

8. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for governingtraffic movements on said stretch, a second traific governing device for said stretch, approach locking means, a time element device which upon becoming energized requires the lapse of a first delay period of time to attain,

contact for transferring said normal contact from the pick-up circuit for said stick relayto an energizing circuit for said approach locking means, means controlled by said stick relay and by said approach locking means for energizing said time element device when said stick relay is energized and said approach locking means is deenergized, and means controlled by said approach locking means for preventing operation of said second traflic governing device until said approach locking means becomes energized after said signalis returned to the stop condition.

HARRY C. VANTASSEL. 

